Dumping devices for use with fork lift trucks

ABSTRACT

A dumping device which can be used with a fork-lift truck. This device comprises a frame comprising two parallel arms connected by cross bars and into which the two arms of the fork of the truck may be inserted, and a tipping bucket supported by the frame and pivotable about a horizontal and transverse axis at the front of the frame.

United States Patent [191 Sleziak 1 1 DUMPING DEVICES FOR USE WITH FORK LIFT TRUCKS [76] Inventor: Ladislas Sleziak, 34 Rue de lEchelle, Bogny sur Meuse, France 22 Filed: July 17,1972

21 App1.No.:272,324

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 29, 1971 France 71139451 [52] U.S. Cl 214/315; 214/620 [51] Int. Cl 1366f 9/12 [58] Field of Search 214/620, 621, 312, 313, 214/314, 315, 318, 672, 673, 674

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,355 12/1941 Van Riper 214/313 2,601,163 6/1952 Miller 214/620 X 2,701,658 2/1955 Radin eta]... 214/620 2,738,222 3/1956 Needham 214/620 X 3,013,684 12/1961 King et a1. 214/620 Apr. 15, 1975 3,125,236 3/1964 3,435,973 4/1969 3,486,648 12/1969 3,506,148 4/1970 3,613,924 10/1971 Monson 214/621 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 323,207 7/1957 Switzerland 214/621 Primary ExaminerA1bert J. Makay Assistant ExaminerLeslie J. Paperner Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams 1 ABSTRACT A dumping device which can be used with a fork-lift truck. This device comprises a frame comprising two parallel arms connected by cross bars and into which the two arms of the fork of the truck may be inserted, and a tipping bucket supported by the frame and pivotable about a horizontal and transverse axis at the front of the frame.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures DUMPING DEVICES FOR USE WITH FORK LIFT TRUCKS This invention relates to a dumping device for use with a fork-lift truck.

Fork-lift trucks are known which are provided with a bucket pivotal about a central horizontal axis to discharge its contents. Such buckets require a special device mounted on the vertical masts ofthc truck. Moreover. due to the fact that the bucket is permanently connected to the truck. the latter is always used for the same type of operation. Finally due to the fact that the bucket is articulated laterally. the discharge operation cannot be effected much in advance of the truck.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these drawbacks by providing a device which does not require the fork lift truck to be specially adapted and whose manipulation is relatively simple.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for use with a fork-lift truck and comprising a frame. comprising two parallel arms connected by cross-bars and into which the arms of the fork lift truck can be inserted. and a tipping bucket pivotally sup ported by the frame for movement about a horizontal and transverse axis at the front of the frame.

The device when resting on the ground may be easily picked up since it is a question ofinserting the two arms of the fork into the two hollow side members of the frame; after which the whole frame and tipping bucket are lifted. then the lifting masts are pivoted rearwardly so as to allow the bucket to be tipped rcarwardly.

Discharging of the bucket is effected very simply by pivotting the lifting masts forwardly and at a predeten mined point. due to the shape ofthe tipping bucket. the latter then pivots about its axis to effect discharge by tipping over.

The operation of returning the tipping bucket to its upright position on its frame is effected simply by low cring the fork until the tipping bucket rests on the ground in an inverted position then moving the truck backwards which causes the bucket to pivot in the opposite direction so as to return to its operating position.

The bucket according to the invention can be rapidly discharged. Moreover the fork lift truck does not require to be specially adapted to be used with the bucket.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described. by way ofcxample. with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a device in the operating position on a fork lift truck.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the frame of the device of FIG. I.

FlGS. 3 to S are diagrammatic elevation views illus trating the various stages of the discharge of the con tents of the tipping bucket.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrammatic elevation views illus trating the operation for returning the tipping bucket to its operating position.

The receptacle according to the invention which is shown in FIG. 1 comprises two main parts. namely a tipping bucket or container 1 and a frame 2 supporting this bucket The device is adapted to be handled by a fork lift truck having a tiltable fork lift assembly. whereof only the masts 3 and the fork or projecting member 4 are shown in FIG. I.

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The frame 2 of the container comprises two parallel hollow side members 5 and 6 of rectangular cross section are connected by two cross bars 7 and 8. The rear ends of the side-members 5 and 6 are open so as to allow the two arms of the fork 4 of the truck to be inserted into same. At their front ends. the side members 5 and 6 respectively support tubular bearings 9 and II in which is engaged a transverse and horizontal pivot pin 12 of the tipping bucket i. This pin. also passes through an intermediate tubular bearing [3 secured to the front cross bar 8 of the truck.

The tipping bucket 1 has a general parallelepipedal shape. but. however. it has at the from an inclined face 1- connecting its front vertical face 15 to its lower horizontal face or base portion [6 which usually rests on the frame [2. The rigidity of the bucket is ensured by angle-irons extending along the edges of the latter. An angle-iron 17, is welded. by way of reinforcement. to the junction of the front vertical wall 15 and the inclined wall 14. A chain 18 is hooked permanently to an eyelet l9 integral with the side member 6 of the frame 2. and to a book 21 secured to the upper part of the rear wall 22 of the tipping bucket I. or to a hook 24 integral with the fork 4.

Discharge ofthe bucket I will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

The tipping bucket l is usually loaded when the latter is on the ground so that the truck may be used for other operations. Once the bucket is charged the truck with its fork 4 in bottom position approaches and the two arms are inserted into the two sections 5 and 6 of the frame 2. Then the lifting masts 3 are caused to pivot backwards and the fork 4 and the tipping bucket l which it supports are raised to a height suitable for transportation as shown in FIG. 3.

Once it has arrived at the location where the discharge operation is to be effected. for example into a bucket 23 resting on the ground. the chain 18 is en gaged with the book 24. and the lifting masts 3 are caused to pivot forwards so that the fork 4 and the tipping buckct I are inclined forwards. When the fork 4 and the frame 2 are inclined to a certain degree. the load contained in the tipping bucket l. which exerts its weight on the front and lower inclined wall 14 of the bucket. causes the latter to tilt around the pin 12 and the frame 2 to slide towards the front of the arms of the fork 4. It should be noted in FIG. I that the center of gravity G of the tipping bucket is located very slightly behind the pivot pin 12. which assists tilting of the bucket and sliding of the frame 2. the sliding of the latter determining the distance of said tilting movement. Therefore. the bucket pivots in clockwise direction about the pin 12. as is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4.

At the end of the tilting movement. the bottom of the bucket is aligned with the pin [2 in the position shown in FlG. 5, after having pivoted through l8U with respect to its initial position.

The return of the bucket to its original positicn will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Once the bucket has taken up the position shown in FIG. 5 the fork 4 and bucket l are lowered until the latter touches the ground. (FIG. 6) The lifting truck is then moved backwards while continuing to the lower the fork 4. There results. as shown in FIG. 7. a pi oting movement ofthe tipping bucket l in anticlockwise direction about the pin 12 and about the arris by the edge of the bucket. The face of the latter then bears against the ground. then pivots about the junction between the face 14 and 15, namely the reinforcement 17. Finally. when the frame 2 and the fork 4 rest on the ground. the tipping bucket l is located in the position shown in FIG. 8 in which its inclined wall 14 is adjacent the ground.

it is then sufficient to tilt the bucket l by hand about the pin 12 through approximately 45 in anti-clockwise direction in order to bring it into its operating position on the frame 2.

It can be seen from the above that the discharge and bucket re-positioning operations can be effected easily and automatically without practically any intervention by the driver of the truck except as regards the final pivoting of the bucket l and the hooking of the chain 18 to the hook 24 (without getting down from his seat).

The chain 18 is a safety chain which has been provided to ensure that the bucket l is kept on the frame 2 during transportation. Naturally. this chain must be unhooked prior to the discharge operation and reconnected to the hook 24, in the operating position, in order to prevent the frame 2 from sliding off the fork 4 during the tilting operation.

I claim:

l. in combination: a fork lift truck having a tiltable lift assembly including projecting lift members disposed for forward and backward and for upward and downward movements and for tilting movements in vertical planes; a dumping device comprising a container receptive of material for discharge therefrom and having a planar base. an opening opposite said base and a wall between said base and said opening said base having an edge portion; linkage means which comprise supporting means having a first end receptive of the projecting members of the fork lift assembly on insertion of said members at said first end of said supporting means. said LII supporting means having another end. and means disposed along said edge of said base portion remote from said first end of the supporting means for pivotally connecting the other end of said supporting means to a portion of said base and for thereby defining a first pivot axis about which said container can pivot approximately when said container is at a given height from a rest position wherein said base portion is disposed below said opening. to a discharging position wherein said base portion is disposed above said opening. solely in response to tilting of said lift assembly. to thereby discharge any material in the container; said container having means defining corner portions of said wall to define at least two additional pivot axes parallel to said first pivot axis enabling said linkage means to substantially restore said container to said rest position. solely in response to simultaneous backward and downward movement of said projecting lift members.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said means defining additional pivot axes includes an angle iron secured to each cornered portion to reinforce same.

3. A combination according to claim I, wherein the center of gravity of said container when same is in said rest position is disposed between said first pivot axis and said lift assembly.

4. A combination according to claim I further comprising connecting means for releasably connecting said linkage means to the fork lift assembly to prevent said linkage means from disconnecting from the fork lift assembly during the pivoting of said container.

5. A combination according to claim 4. wherein said connecting means comprises chain means having one end attached to said container and another end releasably attachable to the fork lift assembly. 

1. In combination: a fork lift truck having a tiltable lift assembly including projecting lift members disposed for forward and backward and for upward and downward movements and for tilting movements in vertical planes; a dumping device comprising a container receptive of material for discharge therefrom and having a planar base, an opening opposite said base and a wall between said base and said opening said base having an edge portion; linkage means which comprise supporting means having a first end receptive of the projecting members of the fork lift assembly on insertion of said members at said first end of said supporting means, said supporting means having another end, and means disposed along said edge of said base portion remote from said first end of the supporting means for pivotally connecting the other end of said supporting means to a portion of said base and for thereby defining a first pivot axis about which said container can pivot approximately 180* when said container is at a given height from a rest position wherein said base portion is disposed below said opening, to a discharging position wherein said base portion is disposed above said opening, solely in response to tilting of said lift assembly, to thereby discharge any material in the container; said container having means defining corner portions of said wall to define at least two additional pivot axes parallel to said first pivot axis enabling said linkage means to substantially restore said container to said rest position, solely in response to simultaneous backward and downward movement of said projecting lift members.
 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said means defining additional pivot axes includes an angle iron secured to each cornered portion to reinforce same.
 3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of said container when same is in said rest position is disposed between said first pivot axis and said lift assembly.
 4. A combination according to claim 1 further comprising connecting means for releasably connecting said linkage means to the fork lift assembly to prevent said linkage means from disconnecting from the fork lift assembly during the pivoting of said container.
 5. A combination according to claim 4, wherein said connecting means comprises chain means having one end attached to said container and another end releasably attachable to the fork lift assembly. 